Acute Medicine
The majority of admissions are emergencies direct from GPs and
pass through the Medical Assessment Unit or CCU once admitted into
the Countess of Chester. A full range of unselected general medical
referrals are accepted, by Clinical Site Co-ordinators performing a
bed management function in conjunction with Bed Bureau and liaising
with staff to provide an efficient admissions system.
Patients are reviewed by the medical staff 'on-take' with support
from the Clinical Support Workers. This has improved the quality
and efficiency of emergency admissions care. The "Physician of the
Week" concept, developed in 1995, provides further support which
aims to provide an effective admissions procedure.
"The division now benefits from an all year round Rapid
Response Team"
The Division now benefits from an all year round Rapid Response
Team which is a joint initiative with the Community Trust and
Social Services. It is now an integral part of managing emergency
admissions. Patients are assessed by a multi-disciplinary team in
Emergency Medicine and suitable patients are then managed in the
community with support from District Nursing and Health Care
Assistants. The service also accepts referrals from GPs and other
members of the PHCT. Here are some of the departments'
details:-
- Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) - 27 beds.
- Consultant "Physician of the Week" - since 1995.
- Unselected acute medical take.
- Thrombolysis in Emergency Medicine/CCU.
- Incoming calls accepted via experienced Clinical Site
Co-ordinator.
- Rapid Response Team.
- Old Peoples' Rapid Assessment (See Older People's
Medicine).
- Cardiologist of the Week - since Autumn 2003
- Assessment Nurses.
- 10 Clinical Support Workers who undertake basic medical duties
(eg cannulation) both on MAU and across the hospital.